Two-goal Wayne Rooney sparked a 2-1 victory for Manchester United at Sheffield United to keep the Red Devils top of the Barclays Premiership.

Former Old Trafford winger Keith Gillespie had stunned the visitors by scoring his first goal for the Blades.

But Rooney made it three goals in four days after finding the net in England’s 1-1 draw in Holland in midweek.

United should have taken the lead in the 10th minute after Colin Kazim-Richards made a hash of intercepting Cristiano Ronaldo’s ball.

Poor control allowed skipper Gary Neville to steal in and drive in a right-foot shot that was saved by Paddy Kenny’s legs.

Three minutes later the Blades made the visitors pay by taking the lead, with Rio Ferdinand’s mistake the cause. Under pressure from Kazim-Richards, Ferdinand hacked the ball down the touchline, only for Nicky Law to intercept.

A cushioned header to Kazim-Richards, followed by a return pass, gave the 18-year-old time to deliver a cross from the left and Gillespie headed in.

Controversy followed in the 26th minute when United were denied a penalty. Rooney’s through-ball for Louis Saha saw the Frenchman barged in his back by Rob Kozluk. Referee Mark Clattenburg waved away appeals and was immediately surrounded by four angry United players.

But the Red Devils were in control and their reward arrived on the half-hour. Neville’s low curled ball into the heart of the area from the right was picked up by Rooney. After an initial controlling touch with his left foot, Rooney fired the equaliser past Kenny with his right foot from six yards.

Rooney got his second in the second half when he met Patrice Evra’s left-wing cross and volleyed home from eight yards. Ronaldo then spooned the ball over an empty net from four yards after being teed up by Giggs.